BA in Mathematics

 

a female student listening during a math lecture

 

The Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, while not recommended for those who want to pursue graduate study in mathematics or a closely-related field, provides a solid foundation for many careers and for admission to professional schools. Although the BA requires fewer courses than the Bachelor of Science program, some students find this option more conducive to double major, pursue multiple minors or study abroad. 

 

 

Degree Program Planners

Learn more about the different mathematics concentrations on the Undergraduate page. 

 

 

Samsara Counts


Samsara Counts, BA ’19

Inventor of filterED

"The tools I'm building aim to help clinicians understand the social media space better [that their patients engage with]. If I can use my talents to help other people, that really resonates with me."

Course Requirements

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.

Program-specific curriculum:

Required
MATH 1231Single-Variable Calculus I (or equivalent)
MATH 1232Single-Variable Calculus II
MATH 2185Linear Algebra I for Math Majors *
or MATH 2184 Linear Algebra I
MATH 2233Multivariable Calculus
MATH 2971Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning
or MATH 2971W Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning
One 3-credit course selected from the following: **
CSCI 1011Introduction to Programming with Java
CSCI 1012Introduction to Programming with Python
CSCI 1041Introduction to FORTRAN Programming
CSCI 1111Introduction to Software Development
CSCI 1121Introduction to C Programming
CSCI 1131Introduction to Programming with C

*Of the two options for linear algebra, MATH 2185 is preferred.

**Students in the pure mathematics concentration (see below) may substitute an alternative elective, approved by the department, for the CSCI course.

Concentration requirement

All students must complete requirements for one of the following three concentrations:

Pure mathematics concentration

Required
MATH 4121Introduction to Abstract Algebra I
MATH 4239Real Analysis I
or MATH 4239W Real Analysis I
Two courses (6 credits) selected from the following:
MATH 3125Linear Algebra II
MATH 3257Introduction to Complex Variables
MATH 3806Introduction to Topology
MATH 4122Introduction to Abstract Algebra II
MATH 4240Real Analysis II
Three additional MATH courses (9 credits) numbered in the 3000 and 4000 ranges.

Applied mathematics concentration 

Required
MATH 3342Ordinary Differential Equations
MATH 3343Partial Differential Equations
MATH 3553Introduction to Numerical Analysis
MATH 3359Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
MATH 4239Real Analysis I
or MATH 4239W Real Analysis I
Two additional MATH courses (6 credits) numbered in the 3000 and 4000 ranges.

 Interdisciplinary mathematics concentration

Required
MATH 3342Ordinary Differential Equations
MATH 3553Introduction to Numerical Analysis
MATH 3359Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
Four additional MATH courses (12 credits) numbered in the 3000 and 4000 ranges.
Minor or second major requirement: Students in the interdisciplinary concentration must complete an approved minor or second major in a field in which mathematics is applied. The pre-approved fields are astronomy and astrophysics, biology, bioinformatics, biophysics, chemistry, data science, economics, finance, information systems, physics, statistics, and all fields in the School of Engineering and Applied Science.